Hold Quiboloy accountable for his crimes against Women and Youth!

While the arrest of Apollo Quiboloy is one step towards justice for his victims, the Philippine government must also investigate those who have assisted Quiboloy in evasion of accountability and ensure that he is held responsible for the trauma and exploitation that his former followers faced under his church.

Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “appointed son of god” and spiritual advisor of Duterte during his prior presidency, must be made accountable to the charges of child abuse, labor trafficking, and sex trafficking amongst others, and so should anyone who has shielded Quiboloy.

“Whether Quiboloy has ‘surrendered peacefully’ or was arrested is besides the point,” said Pilar, National Chairperson of GABRIELA USA, “There must be a thorough investigation into any involvement of those in positions of power who may have assisted Quiboloy in the continued delay of justice to his victims. Quiboloy must be held accountable to heinous acts he has committed against his victims, including women and youth.”

In the Philippines, those who live in excess wealth like Quiboloy, who trafficked and exploited women and girls, thrive because the feudal-patriarchal standards of Spanish colonial rule continues to influence the low view of women, treatment of women as second class citizens, and view of women as property, especially for the man of the household. This is then reinforced by women’s role in the economy, where they are relegated to domestic or informal types of labor. The rich continue to exploit women by capitalizing on this low-status and perpetuating the layers of oppression that subjugate them.

As GABRIELA we challenge and condemn this feudal-patriarchal structure and assert that Filipino women must be fully engaged in advancing society through organizing and mobilizing for their genuine freedom.

We demand Justice for the Victims of Apollo Quiboloy! End Violence against Women and Children!